How to repair a broken marriage

Rae and Riley have been -- mostly -- separated for more years than they were together. They still find plenty to fight (and make up) about, even though most of their friends and family think their marriage was ended years ago.

These two have a truckload of passion combined with a lifetime of history, yet their struggles are directly related to the patterns of communication they grew up with. This is a beautiful, tender, heart-wrenching story about how they work through breaking down their barriers without breaking each other again.

The secrets abound in this romance, but the one that ultimately drove them apart is truly heartbreaking and seemingly insurmountable. It is a testament to this author's skill at fully developing her characters that we feel every emotion as they work their way through all the anger, fear, and habit-driven trust issues until they finally find their way back to each other.

Grab your tissues and settle in for a truly romantic read. Riley and Rae were just so vividly depicted it was a real joy to experience their love for each other and their oh-so-satisfying HEA. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would! What a fantastic book! A romance with tons of drama. Characters that were fantastic. I couldn't put it down. Absolutely loved it.

SECRET NIGHTS WITH A COWBOY – Caitlin Crews
A Kitteridge Ranch Novel, Book 1
St. Martin’s
ISBN: 978-1250625496
December 2020
Contemporary Romance

Cold River, Colorado – Present Day

Riley Kitteridge and Rae Trujillo married just a few weeks out of high school, but their marriage fell apart after only a few short years together. Yet, they still can’t quit each other, which results in an occasional “friends with benefits” moment. But Rae feels it’s time to move on, especially since Riley won’t give her the one thing she now wants: a baby. He made it clear during their marriage that he had no plans to become a father. She approaches him one night and informs him that she wants a divorce. That seems to set something off in Riley. If he can’t have her, then he will make it difficult for her to walk away.

But while Rae still has feelings for Riley, she wants more than great sex with him. His childhood was filled with dysfunction and anger, and he believes eternal love isn’t possible. Yet, he married Rae because he wanted her—and loved her—but doesn’t want any children. Now that she’s older, the “no children” clause is a dealbreaker for her. Her maternal clock is ticking—and it’s time to move on from the man who will only cause her heartbreak.

It’s a reunion of sorts for Rae and Riley in SECRET NIGHTS WITH A COWBOY. They were in high school together and once they graduated, he couldn’t wait to get her to the altar. They agreed on many things, including no children, but they were best in bed. Yet, things began to change, and the arguments started. Eventually, Rae moved out, though they would get back together from time to time. But Rae knows it’s time to move on, even if it means turning her back on the best sex she’s ever had. Well, he is the only sex partner she’s ever had…

The moment Rae asks Riley for a divorce, something shifts inside him. It’s like cutting off a part of him and he can’t do it. The sexual vibes between them still hum deep, and even before she can get out the door, they’re kissing. Rae and Riley are soon doing the one thing they haven’t done in a long time: talk. Will their discussions lead them to find a way back together? Or is it the end of the road for their marriage?

SECRET NIGHTS WITH A COWBOY is an emotional and sensual read. The failure of their marriage isn’t something either wanted to happen, yet they could never confront the issues that drove them apart. Rae is going to have to tell Riley what led her to walk out. He is going to have to deal with the fact that he needs to like himself and change what’s wrong. It’s an interesting and emotional journey for both.

Will Rae and Riley get reunited and build a future together once more? Find out the answer in SECRET NIGHTS WITH A COWBOY.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

I really had a hard time getting into this one. I'm not sure if it was just me or actually the story. The relationship between Riley and Rae just seemed totally pointless at the beginning. They are married and have been for the entire time that she has left him. The stuff they are dealing with seemed kind of stupid to me. Why hadn't Riley moved on? It seemed like a very toxic relationship.
It took me till over half way through the book to get into the story. The reason for Rae leaving was given. It had become apparent before then, but it did make me ache for her. When they finally started communicating was when I became invested in the story. This was just a tough one for me, but I will give Ms. Crews points for originality.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Second chance romance isn't always my cup of tea. I kinda feel been there done that. But I still read them. I know, I can't help myself. If it sounds good I have to give it a try.

I have to start off with the fact that both Riley and Rae need a swift kick in the butt. They both have tunnel vision in their hurt and anger so they can't see beyond it. You just want to yell at them to step back and see the big picture.

They've let their pasts eclipse the here and now.

I understand they both have past issues, but the one thing for me that means so much is the fact that they both stayed married. Something has to be there for that to happen. They are both young and could have started over so something stopped them.

I will say at times this isn't an easy book to read. I often got frustrated by it. I liked them both but at times when they are together, it was hard to like them. I will have to say this is a very emotional book to read. With all that you still couldn't put it down because you needed to know if they worked it all out. Yes, I know because it's a romance they would, but you still wondered with these two.

So this is one of those books that I didn't love but still enjoyed it. It's not the first book in the series but I don't think it made much of a difference with this book. I do usually like to read them in order but sometimes that doesn't happen.

Secret Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews is a great story. This book was well written, enjoyable, and has a sexy cowboy included. The characters are well developed and likeable. This is a second chance romance story at its best. I highly recommend it!
Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn’t too sold on the premise for this book, but I enjoyed the previous book, so I wanted to give this a try. Good writing and Riley and Rae do have some chemistry. I just don’t think this type of premise is what I like; I just didn’t connect with Rae at all. Her reasons for leaving Riley were stupid; that twist wasn’t for me. Riley and Rae are a married couple that don’t agree on much, but the passion is there between them. Rae is off doing her own thing, while Riley is just at home doing his own thing; it all just seems very bratty and immature. It’s been years too; she goes off and comes back occasionally, they get hot and heavy, then she leaves again. Not cool! Rae’s back again to ask for a divorce instead of having an actual conversation likes mature people would. Riley and Rae fall right back into their back and forth junk. I like the setting for the story and the side characters, so that adds some fun to the story. Some entertaining scenes and steam, so the story is okay. Since I enjoyed the previous book and the writing is good, I’ll stick with this series and read the next book, but this book just wasn’t for me.

Secret Nights with a Cowboy is an emotional read. It is a small town romance with wonderful characters. Usually finding love and getting married is the end of the story but, for this couple it is only the beginning of a emotional journey.

There’s a lot of angst in this book. A. Lot. There’s also two very frustrating characters who can’t seem to get out of their own way and who this reader still isn’t sure she likes. Riley and Rae danced around each other for years, neither divorcing nor acknowledging each other in public or to friends and family. They definitely didn’t put the fun in dysfunction. I’m not sure I like either one of then, to tell you the truth.
But I must have appreciated the storyline, because I didn’t quit the book, even as it took me way longer to finish than it normally would a book of this length. I’m going to give the next book a try. I’ve read others from Ms. Crews library and enjoyed them. Maybe this one was a fluke.

Riley Kittredge and Rae Trujillo married right after they graduated high school. She had a secret but you don’t find that out until the end of the story. They split not long after they married but she kept returning. They thrived on fighting, having sex, and Rae leaving and going back home as she moved home with her parents. I received this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Secrets Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews and is a second chance romance with a twist. Riley and Rae married young but never seemed to find their happily ever after. Rae is now ready to move on without Riley, but is Riley really ready to let her go? They definitely shared a steamy chemistry, but can they get past the obstacle that stand in their way and find a real future together? I loved watching them work towards something they want and fighting for their future. A fun, quick and charming read!

Happy reading!

Secret Nights with a Cowboy is the first in the Kittredge Ranch series by Caitlin Crews but not the first Kittredge to receive their story. That honor would go to Amanda Kittredge whose story is found in The Last Real Cowboy. I remember thinking that Amanda seemed stuck in high school teenage behavior but it is a plight that Riley and Rae Trujillo Kittredge also have to fight against.

This story is a second chance for this married-but-not-together couple to change their relationship. Riley is the more mature of the two but even he does not show much emotion until his temper comes out to play. Still he is very likable as is Rae who has moved back to her parents before this story begins. More than once I wanted to say, “Girl you don’t need to move on as much as you need to grow up!” Both of these main characters come from some seriously dysfunctional families. No wonder they have no idea how to manage their own relationships. Yet this story is so realistic that I have more compassion for the several couples that I know going through messy relationships now.

The plot is well structure with the dual POVs which was great especially since Riley and Rae struggle with talking about anything personal. Otherwise it would be difficult to understand why they say or do what they say and do. Why Rea left is a mystery that builds up the emotional tension because it is never revealed until the end. Surprisingly, that does not stop or slow the flow of the story at all.. However, it is how the couple change over the course of this story that stands out to me, not in an instant but slowly, painfully at times but deliberately too.

Also my copy had a bonus novella concerning Riley’s brother, Connor Kittredge.

4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm not a huge fan of second-chance romances, but I decided to give this book a try. There's lots of steam and heat between the couple. There's also angst and a huge lack of communication. And then everything wrapped up a little too neatly at the end. I can't say it was my favorite book, but I did enjoy it and some of the secondary characters enough to round my rating up from 3.5 stars to 4.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

There were so many elements of this story I liked. The two people who have been together since they were kids, who then grow up to get married. However it seems that is where it all went wrong. For eight years they have been making up and breaking up.

Rae refuses to tell Riley why she seems so angry and bitter. Riley is stubborn too but he has only loved her, and is still in love with her. So when she asks for a divorce he offers to be her wingman. Just friends, right?

I didn't understand all the games they played. At what point do you sit down and say enough is enough, and talk it out. This seemed a little immature that it went on for 8 years, even given the circumstances.

I still like the small town feel of this setting and the other supporting characters.

I really was not a fan of this book, I felt like it dragged a lot. I liked Riley he was a pistol he was a stubborn mule and he was totally set in his way but even in the middle of everything he still could crack a joke. Rae was completely whiney, I also felt the reason for leaving took forever to "figure" out. I did like Hope and Abby they were amazing friends. I really felt like this book played off more as high schoolers then adults in their 30's. There is a Second story in the end which was super cute. I liked Conner in the first story so I was glad to be able to read his story.

Secret Nights with a Cowboy is an emotional story of high school sweethearts. It's an exceptional love story of self-discovery, acceptance and second chances. I loved all the secrets (not all revealed), passion and the journey to discovering their powerful connection and the love that never died.

Secret Nights With a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews is part of her Kittridge Ranch series and is definitely a romance, but more complex than many. Rae Trujillo had married Riley Kittridge very young. There had never been anyone else, for either of them. But it was now years into her marriage and they had been separated for many of them. No one knew why, including Riley. Everyone assumed they were divorced. They weren't. She spent most of the night, most nights with him. It was a poorly kept secret no matter what she thought. Tonight is going differently. She has asked for a divorce, and Riley has figured out that what he has been doing hasn't been working and it was time to change his approach.

This entire series encompasses stories of unlikely romances. This one was particularly difficult, given the situation. It is a terrible thing to be totally in love and yet unable to function on a daily basis with the object of one's affections. Rae is so miserable and yet not able to verbalize the problem, not only to Riley but also to anyone. Her heart is breaking and the reader's heart along with it as she the problem is lowly revealed. Romances always have a happy ending and the beginning of the book reveals the twi people involved. It is the journey and this is a rough one. I love this series and can't wait to read more. This is pretty much a standalone but I would recommend going back and reading them all, including Cold River Ranch, which overlaps this series. The order is not all that important.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Secret Nights With a Cowboy by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #secretnightswithacowboy

Rae and Riley are two people with tons of baggage that love each other but their relationship keeps the same patterns. Rae knows she needs to end their marriage and move on but every time she just can’t follow through even thought they are separated. Their love burns hotter then a fireplace but she can’t get over the past “the one she keeps from him”. It’s a second, third chance on couple that loves each other but don’t know how to communicate. I enjoyed the book and the back forth. I laughed got a few tears and also wanted to scream at the Rae and Riley a few times. That’s what I feel makes a story good when you can go through so many emotions reading it. I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read it early from St Martian press. My review is based solely on my opinions.

A little humor, a whole lot of hot cowboys and a fiery little raven haired beauty that twists one big cowboy's heart in knots! Will Rae and Riley ever get their act together and find a happily ever after? I can't wait to read the stories of the three other Kittredge brothers introduced and maybe Matias too?

Thank you to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book. The review I wrote is my honest opinion.

When problems seem insurmountable....
Riley and Rae are both too stubborn for words. Secrets, longings, and hopes are hidden beneath the public exterior. The passion they share is fiery, and the desires they have is second to none. Internal struggles war with emotional release. Will one tiny slip of emotion change the course of their relationship? Will one chance taken bring forth a new hope? A possibility of healing will only happen if the courage to communicate becomes paramount.